Paragraph 7:13–17

7:13a

one of the elders addressed me: The Greek words are literally “one of the elders answered and said to me.” The word “answered” probably indicates that the elder responded to the praise of the angels (7:12). He responded by speaking to John. Other ways to translate these words are:

one of the elders responded and asked me
-or-
one of the elders asked me (New International Version)
-or-
One of the elders turned to me and asked (Revised English Bible)

7:13b–c

“These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”: This is a leading question. It causes someone to think about what the answer might be. The elder knew the answer to this question and he also knew that John did not know the answer. He asked John this question to cause John to think about the people in white robes. Since John replied, you should translate these words as a question.

These in white robes…who are they…?: The words These in white robes are emphasized in the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible by being first in the clause. Some languages will not be able to emphasize those words in that way. For example:

who are these in white robes…?

If possible emphasize the words These in white robes in another way. For example:

⌊Look at⌋ these ⌊people⌋ ⌊dressed⌋ in white robes. Who are they…?
-or-

⌊What about⌋ those ⌊people⌋ ⌊dressed⌋ in white robes? Who are they…?

who are they, and where have they come from?: These clauses are two questions. In some languages it is more natural to separate the questions. For example:

Who are they? Where have they come from?

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